Dark.
Silent.
Baskerville.
Oh, man. Was I doing the right thing? We tried to maintain some semblance of normalcy in the house where I was staked out, waiting for something, anything to happen.
Driving over tonight to the arranged location, I’d noticed the van that I had followed last week. It was the same one. I was sure of it. What I wasn’t sure of right this minute is what I was doing.
I had had a talk with our dog before putting him in the front yard. I don’t know why I felt the need to explain myself to him; I just did. Baskerville seemed to understand and happily played with some toys I’d brought for him. We kept the lights low in the house so I wouldn’t be observed staring out my post by a side window. Mr. Warner came with me because he didn’t want me to do this on my own. I appreciated his help.
I stood to one side of the window. A slight breeze blew the curtain open. I exhaled a slow breath. The television in the living room was on low but I could feel the light from the screen without looking at it. Mr. Warner and his friend whose house we were in sat watching the program. I had no idea what it was. A couple of hours had ticked by slowly but nothing registered except for the dog in the front yard.
A drop of sweat rolled down my back joined by a second and a third. A wall clock chirped suddenly announcing the time but it made me jump. My nerves were stretched as taut as piano wires. I could tell Baskerville was getting tired of the whole scenario as well. Just when I turned my head to tell Mr. Warner something, a movement outside brought my attention back to the window. Just as quickly as you please, a man in dark clothing leaned over the fence and plucked Baskerville from the yard! My heart relocated to my mouth in a second.
My feet moved without conscious thought.
“Joe!”
Running out the front door, we watched as the van shot off in the dark. It didn’t have any lights on and disappeared as silently as it had come. Mr. Warner and I were in my car within moments and gave chase. Driving fast down the street, we were following the van pretty well until a car pulled suddenly out of a driveway and I had to hit the brakes. I swerved around him and took off after the van but it was too late. The vehicle had disappeared into the black night and streetlights gave us no clues as to which way he went.
Grim now, I drove without regard for speed limits over to Blass Labs in Sparks. Joe and I got out of the car and banged on the door for a few minutes trying to do something. I’d underestimated the opposition and was going to pay for it. No one came to the door.
I drove Mr. Warner home with his soothing comments of sympathy in my ear. They washed over me without sticking. I could not be placated or soothed. Cindy was right and I’d have to face her wrath when I got home. Before going in, I listened to my phone messages. I sat back in the cool car, just letting myself feel what I needed to. My breathing was choppy and tears pricked my eyes. The first message was from Eric. He was mad at me for not calling him back as promised. The second message was from Skip wondering why Cindy hadn’t called him. The third message was from Millie Dumont, Angelo Esposito’s neighbor. Her dog Mugsy had disappeared and she wanted to hire me to find him since I was a detective. Was I a good one, she asked?
If I’d had the strength, I would have called her back to tell her no. I couldn’t seem to do anything right.
When I walked in the front door without Baskerville, Cindy just looked at me. She didn’t say a word. Not one word. But the look she gave me sliced through my heart more than any words she could possibly have uttered. I knew she was beyond mad and wouldn’t speak to me until I made things right. We’ve known each other since high school and we can read each other well. Too well.
I was confused, sad and mad with no clue what to do next.
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